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Byline: David Owens
The life of missing Manic Street Preachers rock star Richey Edwardsis to be made into a movie.
The biopic, which is currently in development, will be titled'4Real' and directed by Lindy Heymann.
The title of the film refers to the infamous incident in 1991 whenthe talismanic lyricist carved the words '4 Real' into his armwhile being interviewed by then NME journalist Steve Lamacq; Richeydisfiguring his arm to prove a point to the music writer who hadn'tbeen convinced of the authenticity of the Welsh firebrands with apenchant for an outrageous statement.
As yet there is no news about who will play Richey.
Lindy, who has directed more than 100 music videos working withsuch names as Paul McCartney, John Lydon, Sinead O'Connor, DavidGray, The Charlatans, Suede, Leftfield, The Specials and Faithless, wonawards for her directorial debut with the movie 'Showboy' in2002.
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Her most recent project was 'The Laughing King', a shortfilm which touches on the sensitive subject of male suicide.
Lindy will be joined on the project by writer Thomas Martin,alongside producers Stephen Malit and Alexandra Stone. The film hasreceived backing from Creative England's emerging talent fund.
Speaking to the website http://montsebrumedia.com, aboutforthcoming projects, Lindy revealed she hoped filming on the biopicwould begin next year.
She said: "I have two feature films in the pipeline -- 4Real aportrait of Richey Edwards from The Manic Street Preachers which we hopeto shoot next year and Rum Doxy Diver, a romantic adventure which tellsthe tale of Grace Hammer, a feisty, female pickpocket set in VictorianEngland."
February 1, 2020, will represent 25 years since Richey'sdisappearance, a story which still endures as one of the ultimate rock'n' roll mysteries.
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News of the biopic follows the publication of a new book about theiconic rock star, published in March.Withdrawn Traces: Searching for theTruth About Richey Manic sheds fresh light on events surrounding hisdisappearance, unearthing a number of new clues in the case.
It is the first book written with the full co-operation ofRichey's sister Rachel Edwards, testimony from his closest friendsand unprecedented access to Richey's extensive personal archive ofdiaries, artwork, essays, photographs and letters from his childhood,schooldays, university and beyond.
As the authors pieced the book together they saw a pattern emergethat suggested a possible life in exile -- a trail of new informationthat they believed may be enough to convince even the most hardened ofsceptics that Richey may have planned his disappearance.
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The facts surrounding the case are well-known. Richey was 27 whenhe disappeared on February 1, 1995 on the day of a promotional trip toAmerica, vanishing from his room at The Embassy Hotel in London.
His car was later discovered near the Severn Bridge, fuelling thebelief that the musician -- who had a history of self-harm, anorexia andalcoholism -- had taken his own life.
His body was never found, but he was legally presumed dead in 2008.
As alleged sightings of Richey have been reported in such places asGoa, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura through the decades, some credence hasbeen given to the theory that he staged his own disappearance to escapehis former troubled life.
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Writing the foreword to the book, Richey's sister RachelEdwards, said: "I was 24 years old when I last saw my brother. 24years have passed since the day that he went missing. I have beenwithout him for half of my life.
"I am almost the same age that my mother was when her sondisappeared."
Her heartfelt words are all the more poignant as both Richey'sparents passed away not knowing what became of their son.
CAPTION(S):
Credit: Western Mail and Echo Copyright
Richey with the Manics and Radio One roadshow host DJ JakkiBrambles in Porthcawl, 1991
Credit: Western Mail
Richey pictured in his teenage years with his dog Snoopy
Credit: Rowan Griffiths
Rachel Edwards, with a picture of Richey
Credit: Western Mail
Richey's mum and dad, Graham and Sherry Edwards, pictured in2004
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